i would have done that, if i was accepted, no problem, but then my undergrad degree was not going to give me a real leg up in the design world. if you have the passion and talent, clearly you do, and you are not going to an esteemed undergrad program, i think it's worth spending two extra years for a BArch. you have the additional benefit of connecting with a great city, great student body, decent facilities, and an A+ faculty.

do it, and make many of us all jealous.

I would just finish one year at current school. Why stop when you're at 80%?

Hi b3tadine[sutures], thanks! I am really grateful for the chance, and somehow feel like I am going no matter how long does it take. Yeah I think that must be really fascinating to work with awesome people and living in one of the best cities in the world!

Quentin, thanks! yes that all my friends told me(and my rationality told me as well), cause it just ridiculous to spend extra three year to get a B.Arch; which when I finally graduated, all my classmates probably have already got a M.Arch...

the thing is my home college is a terrible place, even the instructors don't care about the studio and most of the people just want to get the degree. I stopped learning new things and got really board (that's another waste of time to be stucked in an awful school..) So I went to Temple for being an exchange student for the forth year, which....make me still not feeling not being challenged as well. So then I applied to Cooper!(affordable, city based, competitive!)

I am really passionate about architecture, and eager to work with very competitive people who care about architecture as much as me :)  

(also I wonder the chance if I just go back to finish my thesis, and got accepted into the school again...) 

thank you guys for the advices! 

ines, the fact that your friends may or may not have an MArch, should mean very little, but then again, i think you are aware of this. their MArch, unless they go to an Ivy, will mean very little, and the simple fact is, you've pretty much said that very few people in your school care enough about design to even move on to a grad gig. take the offer, free tuition while you can get it, Cooper is moving away from the free education system. you won't regret it.

I would suggest you to think very carefully about spending these extra years for your undergrad degree. Studying for too long continuously, while watching others started working already, could cause some impatience, which could alleviate your passion for your studies. You're almost done with your current school. Even though it's awful as you say, at least you can get a job after graduation.

I don't know how it's like for others, but for me starting working was like an important question whether I really love architecture or not. It's better to face this question before you move on. If you really do, then it's the perfect time for an M.Arch to strengthen your ability and thinking. If you don't, it's not too late for a career-changing decision. 3 more years in undergrad program will defer this decisive period of your life. Save it for the M.Arch. You got in at Cooper already then I believe you're very likely to be strong enough for any M.Arch program you want.

But... who knows ! Like Steve Jobs said in one of his speeches, trust your intuition because neither you or anyone could certify what will come.

I was inclined to suggest that you finish your undergraduate education, but if I remember correctly, Cooper Union's undergraduate tuition is free.  In your situation, I believe I would go to Cooper Union, if I could make it work.  Also, ask yourself, is this something that you would regret not doing in the future?

CU, no question.

The acceptance rate (7-8%) is so low that getting in is a high honor. You should be proud to have made it and humbly accept the honor by attending.

Also, the job market is shit, and even if you can accelerate your studies it *might* be better when you're done. If not, you will still have outstanding educational credentials.

thats a good point miles.  graduate with an (apparently) shite degree in a down economy or with an excellent degree (with all the contacts and other cool door prizes that go with it) in a shite economy is not hard math to do.  if economy is good when you finish would be even better...

if you can afford the cost of living and the extra years then go for it.  in the long run the extra 2 years is not such a big deal otherwise...

Thank you guys so much! you guys help me to look at this decision in various perspectives. 

b3tadine[sutures], I think you're absolutely right, whether my friends got M.Arch or not does mean little to me. However, I really hope Cooper is not going to change the free education system. ( but I heard that they will start charging the coming master students)

rrnkenshin, thanks! I understand that staying under the protection of school for such a long time might make people being blind to the architecture reality. So I will start to work this summer, since now I get many more. Although I am not sure if working as an intern and working as a real architect is the same thing, but I guess that's something I will never figure out if I never try. Yeah, who knows! it is hard to have an absolutely right answer,especially for decision like this! maybe I should just flip a coin...just kidding.

jw468, thanks! and yeah, Cooper offers full scholarship to all of its students, I guess thats why they have a really low acceptance rate. I just can't imagine turning down the offer, but one can never predict the future though. But I have read something about that elderlies seldom regrat something they did but for things that they didn't.

Miles, yes I am very very lucky to get into the program! however, I have no clue how the job market will be though...but hope for the best! at least I guess the years studying in Cooper will be fascinating!

Will, I think you're right, if I put the extra three year in my 70s that would be nothing.  and there is always the smartest and fastest way to get degrees, but I guess if I keeping learning new things and working hard, the time won't be wasted.

Thank you all very much! I will take the offer! and will try to make the best use of the extra years in college. wish you guys the best! cheers!

congrats!

i'm still waiting for the result for transfer in architecture.. when did you hear back from them? does this mean I got declined....?

the waiting is so much pain im running out of my patience.

Hi piaoL, thanks!  I got the decision letter through email on 9th April, and few days after came the paper copy. Transfer decisions could be released at late as early May (at least thats their answer on facebook page, I am not sure if you know this :https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cooper-Union-Admissions-Page/121878121759?fref=ts). You can ask them questions on the page and they normally reply quickly. I understand how you feel, the waiting is really painful, and the worst is that you can do nothing about it! ( look at that page help a little, by seeing many other anxious applicants....but just a little)  but you will be fine! best of luck! finger crossed for you :)

I would say finish your B.Arch, since you could potentially complete your B.Arch AND have an M.Arch in less time than it would take you to finish Cooper Union. And if you are good enough to get in to Cooper Union now then you can definitely get into a M.Arch II program at some place like Harvard or Yale or Columbia, or if you are lucky Princeton or even Cooper Union again. Between getting into several Masters programs and seeing which gives you the most aid and also having extra time to work, the financial difference might be less significant than it would otherwise be. And if you ever want to teach you're going to need a Masters, or you might want one in the future anyway to further develop yourself.  I don't see the point in going back and repeating classes that you are already supposed to have mastered, and I think that you would learn more by moving forward with your existing education. Honestly, I think that sacrificing three years of your life just to get a brand name (which you could get something roughly equivalent to anyway) is crazy. 

Paradoxical essence of snail's advice:

"Don't transfer to Cooper Union, finish your current BArch, and then see if you're good/lucky enough to get into a place like Cooper Union"

-- It's not about getting a brand name degree, it's about getting a stellar education. Definitely go to Cooper, and count the extra year there as a blessing.

8 years for an undergraduate, plus the costs.  i really don't see any benefit in doing that when all you have is one year to go.  school is extremely overrated.  Do you really want to be starting your career/adult life that late?

I agree that it's about more than just the brand name ... I just think that you would get an inferior education by spending an extra three years taking studios that you have already taken the equivalent of, compared to spending the time getting a Masters degree (from an equivalent institution that would also give you an excellent education) and working.

except that they're probably not really an equivalent

and when is someone going to have such an opportunity to focus on their own abilities and growth?

picking up redlines after getting that first BArch?

Hi, Ines 7

thanks for your reply! After a week's painful waiting, I heard them today that I got accepted!

I'm also a transfer to the second year studio, exactly same situation as yours!

but I will finish my 4 year arch degree this year first and then continue... 

look forward to seeing you around!

Hi Ines 7 and piaoL

I'd love to go to cooper as transfer but I havnt done any architectural studies... and there is no much information about transfer acceptance at cooper...

could you tell me how was your GPA and what kind of portfolio you submitted to admission at cooper?  i'd really appreciate your help if you share even a bit of info!

thank you very much! 

finish your final year and get ONE undergrad degree first... Heaven forbid, you wouldn't want to skip the current degree, start at Cooper Union and SOMEHOW don't end up finishing it.  Then you will have NADA degrees xD

Ahhhh! I hate that I came across this posting so late.

Here's to *hoping* you've decided to go to Cooper. I was in an even worse situation than yourself, and placed in 1st year despite having a B.S. and teaching + work experience.

In short, attending was THE BEST decision I have ever made. One week at Cooper beats entire semesters in many other places. Incredibly formative, dynamic, irreplaceable environment. The chatter in your head about classmates finishing masters' degrees, the worth of 8 years, etc disappears quickly (I had very similar pangs).

BTW, acceptance into the architecture program was 3% my year—beats the Ivy's in selectivity and you'll quickly see the critical dispositions of students and faculty does so too. I'd give a limb to spend even another semester in that sanctuary.